Category: Uncategorized

Beyond the Chair

by carole, posted in Uncategorized

Beyond the chair

the window

                the tree outside

 and past that the field

 and further still a hill sheltered by trees.

The one who lives on the hill dwells in fog,

in rain, snow, sun, fallen leaves

 and from these things

she gathers to herself her own self

the essence of her particular thoughts and sentences.

Her life.

And with this life she opens to sky,

clouds, air and sun until

her spirit flies into space, freedom without barriers.

Until she clearly and plainly hears

what she has to say to heaven

©photo and poem by caf

A Carefree Day by the Lake

by carole, posted in photographs, Poem, Uncategorized

Friendly morning Moon rests over Thompson’s Lake
a beacon
between Earth and Heaven
sending light to her vision.

She blows at clouds hoping to scatter them
and failing that
offers her breath
as more clouds to sky

Forgetting insanity and madness
she lies on the earth
as lightness comes to the world
in this moment.

The cardinal’s morning song
adds counterpoint to wind chimes’ belling tones.
Standing, washed by wind
her grateful heart baths in the rising sun.

She says:
We used to fly like swallows
magic in and around our wings.
Earth is a kind womb and gentle grave,
who can say what lies between those seasons?

Gratitude and kindness make us powerful.
Can we remember this?

©photo and poem by caf

Comes the Dark

by carole, posted in photographs, Poem, Uncategorized

Darkness, you bring rich deepness

and tantalizing mystery

both blessing and fear

stealing blankets of warmth

from our comfortable resting place.

You show us stars, planets, galaxies not visible

when you withdraw.

You clothe our world in a blanket of cold,

a womb sheltering the seeds of dramatic sunrise.

You are our Mother as much as Earth

When light appears over the curvature

bathing our faces with tender regard

you take only partial leave

lingering in shadows and making a home

under our hats,

hiding in our marrow

like a kernel of corn in a field

awaiting the sun

to stir its birth.

You bring us dreams –

relief from ordinary life

an existence outside of sometimes banal days.

I would not give you up

nor ask you to stop returning,

for you help me see the substance

gleaming daylight often hides

behind her skirts

Truth hidden by the bright light of the sun

©photo and poem by caf

Passing the Light

by carole, posted in photographs, Poem, Uncategorized

Lazy moon in her bed of night sky

makes no light of her own

but only reflects the sun

and trusts the earth to keep her orbit steady.

She lights our darkest world

and her burnished body covers the pines in lacy glow and shadow.

Yes, this spoiled child creates miracles of beauty while doing nothing

but sharing the light she has been given.

©photo and poem by caf

What the Tree Said

by carole, posted in photographs, Poem, Uncategorized

What the Tree Said

The tree extends to her

across the road and river

a branch, its wing with flowers white and delicate.

She looks into the centers of calm harmlessness

as they attend to her gaze with

offerings of healing fragrance.

Their spirit offers her inclusion in their peace

and they whisper

when nothing within is defended

 or denied, you, too,

will awaken to your own beauty.

©photo and poem by caf

A Guitar and Max

by carole, posted in photographs, Poem, Uncategorized

A Guitar and Max

You are the soul of so many tunes

and my soul as well

old friend – what do you think of your life with me?

stuck in a closet

needing new strings and a tuning.

You are a grand lady

who has served me well

and I will not give you up

although our times being with each other have grown scarce and thin.

Old Max brought us together

muttering over his work bench

tuning, humming

looking for tiny screws with a magnifying glass

eyeglasses heavy on his nose

covering innocent eyes that saw

an awkward young girl in need of hope

and someone’s notice.

He spoke to her in musical words

like strings and sound boards, tuners, and horn bells

and the best language of all, born of unaffected innocence of observation…

the language of the heart.

©photo and poem by caf

A Pond With No Name

by carole, posted in photographs, Poem, Uncategorized

A deep tureen

concealed by forest foliage

and therefore mysterious.

crafted by beavers,

quiet but for birds and insects

singing her secret name

while raindrops drum her surface.

Dead wood and weeds clog her banks

where dragonflies are born

and grow in her slimy gumbo.

To those who live there

she is the ocean,

the bottomless crater that holds the world.

But as this wondrous old bowl

reflects the clouds and stars

she dreams she is the sky.

©Photo and poem by caf

In Spring

by carole, posted in Uncategorized

In Spring

When the morning makes itself pink

and sometimes orange

and the clouds wear dark blue

and the rain stops for a moment,

the clean chill in the air

finds her bones

and calls them to love even the coyotes

who ate the deer

even the deer who ate her Magnolia

even the dead mouse in her cellar,

for Spring mornings renew the world

renew her body.

She says

 I think I could run and live forever

if it were always Spring.

©poem and photo caf

Noticing

by carole, posted in Poem, Uncategorized 

I’ve been noticing:
Many of the acorns are tiny this year
the waters are full and rushing
waterfalls are full and loudly vocal
the sun is sometimes red in the morning
the moon has not been so visible
frogs continue to croak
dragonflies still hunt mosquitos
I remain in love with cows
mountains continue to inspire me
we are rich in slugs
the spiders have been busy webbing
mornings have been foggy
mushrooms are abundant
the trees are lushly vibrant
I still miss my Mom
I am so grateful for this life.
If you keep noticing you will reach gratitude
that overflows as a water fall streams from an overfull lake or 
a river spills its banks from too much sustenance
soaking the ground of your life
the banks of your heart
and the rocks of eternity.

© film and poem by caf

The Mystery

by carole, posted in Poem, Uncategorized
Waning half moon
Stars small suns to other worlds
The smell of morning
No matter the evil,
          the ugly,
           or the political
The mystery is still here.
©photo and poem caf